Green River Wyoming

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The White Mountain Petroglyphs offer a glimpse into Wyoming's Native American heritage from 200 to 1,000 years ago. The sacred site is easy to find north of Rock Springs but certainly off the beaten path.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Three eagles in a tree beside the Green River.

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Flaming Gorge Reservoir is known for its mackinaw or lake trout that grow up to 50 pounds.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES We're not sure how this was formed. It was among the petroglyphs at White Mountain north of Rock Springs in Sweetwater County Wyoming.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The Green River has an abundant population of raptors, including bald eagles, golden eagles, osprey, and may species of hawks.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The Killpecker Dune Field north of Rock Springs is a massive stretch of sand surrounded by mountains sage brush desert. Parts of it are open to recreational four-wheelers.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Contrasts between the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah and the upper stretches in Wyoming are stark. Both are beautiful, but the serenity and wilderness above and below Fontenelle Dam is an angling experience to be savored.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The petroglyphs of White Mountain far from any museum are said to have been carved from 200 to 1,000 years ago. Their natural setting in the Red Desert lends reverence to the site.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Flaming Gorge Reservoir stretches for 91 miles from northeast Utah and far into Wyoming. The roadside views are spectacular. The red cliffs give the gorge its fiery name.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES We spotted nearly a dozen eagles during our eight-mile float down the Green River within the Seekskedee National Wildlife Refuge.

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Sweetwater Wyoming Region

John Bruce

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES As our rocker boat passed this young bull moose rested in the cool flow of the Upper Green River. Wildlife abound in this high desert oasis in Sweetwater County Wyoming.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Fossils created by conditions 50 million years ago are among the best preserved fossils in the world. See them and hunt for them at Fossil Butte National Monument near Kemmerer, Wy.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES You go that way I'll go this way. Dave Hanks and Ron Strait wade toward a spot on the Upper Green River where big brown trout usually lurk. Strait caught a three-pound rainbow, but no big browns for us this day.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES It's difficult to resist holding a camera in one hand and a fly rod in the other when you're floating down the Green River within Seedskedee National Wildlife Refuge. There are dozens of photos around every bend.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Immediately before this photo was shot there were two ospreys in this nest beside the Green River in Seedskedee National Wildlife Refuge.

DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Finally this young bull moose decided to amble away from its cool bandside bed on the Upper Green River.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES David Hanks prepares to release a small Green River trout during a recent trip to Wyoming's Sweetwater County in the southwest corner of the state.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES A young bull moose on the Green River.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES When visiting southwest Wyoming its a short drive to Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Dam in Utah.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Flaming Gorge Reservoir stretches for more than 90 miles mostly in Wyoming. The red cliffs give the gorge its fiery name. The reservoir is famous for is giant mackinaw or lake trout.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES White pelicans on the Green River.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Now you can see why Flaming Gorge guide Terry Colliers grandkids named this Christmas tree Arch.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Close-up of a bald eagle flying along the Green River in Sweetwater County, Wy.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES A flock of Canada geese rises from the Green River as we pass.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Spectacular scenery abound in this region of southwest Wyoming and northeast Utah. Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Dam is a must see spot.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Even if the fish arent biting at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, the scenery will capture your interest. This is a natural stone arch guide Terry Colliers grandchildren named Christmas tree Arch.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Hundreds of figures are etched in the sandstone at the White Mountain Petroglyphs just north of Rock Springs, Wy. Shoshone, Arapaho and Ute tribes still consider this site sacred.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES White pelicans on the Green River.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Dave Hanks shows Ron Strait what kind of insects are in the Green River to explain what our flies and lures are meant to imitate.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES This cowboy fly angler appeared out of place on the Upper Green River. He was with another fisherman. They were the only other people we shared an eight-mile stretch of river with within the Seekskedee National Wildlife Refuge in Sweetwater County.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES The Green River has wild populations of rainbows, trophy browns and cutthroats. The golden stone and gray drake hatches are legendary in midsummer, providing some of the best dry fly fishing anywhere.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES First fish of the day. The pace was as brisk as the river flow. We caught dozens of trout during our afternoon float and lost several bigger fish including a couple of decent browns.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES Hunting is allowed in sections of the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, but not here. The Upper Green River courses through 36 miles of the refuge.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES We caught brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout on Mepps spinners, roostertails, woolly buggers, caddis imitations and a variety of other submersible and dry flies.

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DAVID SIKES/CALLER-TIMES It seemed unusual to spot these white pelicans on the Green River. They're migratory and should be leaving for the coast soon.